ABBAS APPOINTS JOINT FORCE COMMANDER TO IMPLEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001064

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV KPAL IS PTER
SUBJECT: ABBAS APPOINTS JOINT FORCE COMMANDER TO IMPLEMENT
"MOI SECURITY PLAN"

REF: A. JERUSALEM 866

B. JERUSALEM 785

C. JERUSALEM 728

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Tom Duffy, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary. Palestinian security contacts and press
report PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Ismayil
Haniyah agreed June 2 to create a "Joint Security Force,"
composed of Hamas "Executive Force" and Fatah "Special Force"
personnel and led by retired National Security Forces (NSF)
General Sa'id Saqr Abu Fanunah. President's Office contacts
report Haniyah and Abbas discussed several names for a new
Interior Minister (MoI),but did not decide on a candidate.
Rashid Abu Shbak remains internal security chief, but
contacts report Abbas and Haniyah discussed removing him in
recent Gaza City meetings. End Summary.

MoI "Joint Force" Commander Appointed
--------------


2. (SBU) Palestinian security contacts and press report
President Abbas and PM Haniyah agreed June 2 to create a
joint security force, composed of Hamas "Executive Force" and
Fatah "Special Force" personnel. Haniyah's office told
Palestinian newspapers that Abbas appointed retired NSF
General Sa'id Saqr Abu Fanunah to head the force, and that he
will answer to Haniyah in the Prime Minister's capacity as
acting MoI. (Note: Haniyah has been acting MoI since Hani
al-Qawasmi resigned May 14. End note). Press quoted
Egyptian GID security coordinator for Gaza, MG Burhan Hamad
describing the joint security force's mandate as the
implementation of the MoI security plan, promulgated by
former MoI al-Qawasmi.

No Agreement on New Interior
Minister or Abu Shbak
--------------


3. (SBU) President's Office contacts report Haniyah and
Abbas discussed several names for a new MoI, but did not
decide on a candidate. Gaza-based newspapers reported June 3
that Haniyah's spokesman Ghazi Hamad was being considered for
the position, but Hamad and other Hamas officials denied
these reports.


4. (SBU) MoI Director-General for Internal Security Rashid
Abu Shbak, whose resignation was rejected by President Abbas
May 28, remains in office. According to President's Office
contacts, however, Abbas and Haniyah discussed removing him
in recent Gaza meetings. (Note: Abu Shbak's position as
legal commander of the police, Preventive Security and civil
defense has allowed Fatah to retain control over these
forces, although Palestinian law puts them under MoI
authority. Abu Shbak's effective command of these
organizations has been a major Fatah-Hamas sticking point.
End note).

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Palestinian media is reporting daily on Fatah-Hamas
security cooperation intended to prop up the national unity
government (NUG),but no current proposals seem likely to
resolve the core issues, including command of the PASF and
control over MoI directorates, that sparked the recent round
of factional battles. Creation of this "Joint Security
Force," an ad hoc body of Fatah and Hamas militias, seems
more a gesture of support to PM Haniyah than a serious
attempt to implement al-Qawasami's security plan. The "Joint
Security Force" combines the Hamas "Executive Force" and
various Fatah-associated militias that are illegal and
separate from the PASF, which are unlikely to coalesce into
an effective security body.

DUFFY